Silent Marifah Zikr

The Methodology of the Silent Marifah Zikr

In August of 1976 M. R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral) gave discourses on the practice of silent Zikr, the constant remembrance of God with every breath. At approximately 4:30 most mornings Bawa came down to the Meeting room, packed beyond its capacity, to demonstrate the performance of this Zikr and explain the exalted, inner meanings of the traits of the surats and prayers he taught us. The silent repetition of la ilaha illAllahu, nothing exists but You, You are Allah, in conjunction with the in and out movement of the breath has an essential place in the complex layers of instruction which make up his legacy to us. Speaking of this Zikr in 1974 Bawa Muhaiyaddeen said:

This Zikr is not like the prayers you offer in a temple or mosque where you can fall asleep and wake up just in time for prayer, where you can talk to your neighbour and pray at the same time, that will not do. Every part of you must be focused absoultely on one point: nothing exists but God. You cannot deviate the slightest bit from this, your breath, your speech, that sound, that music, the vibrating strings of your nerves, your bones, each of these must be one-pointed, unswerving in concentration. That is the state you have to be in to do this Zikr, the 43,242 breaths you take each day must all be used in its performance. It is not easy.

Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral) describes the silent Zikr this way:

Focus the place of worshp in your qalb, your inner heart. First you have to put your intention on Him in your qalb, then bring that intention to your memory which should be the focal point of attention. That focus must slip through feeling and feeling should become awareness of it. Understand what prayer is through that awareness which must flow through your blood and body; they must be associated with the Zikr, and as awareness exists in the blood, intellect must also function there. Iman, faith, certitude and determination, should be at work within the pointedness of intellect, and that prayer must function on the pointedness of iman in the three worlds, awaal, the time of creation, dunya, this world, and akhirah, the hereafter, because everything exists within man. This prayer should radiate through the tissues, the nerves, the  marrow, through intention; focus your needs, this Zikr should flow through tissues, nerves, veins, blood, the body. When it does, that is prayer, that is devotion. Establish this thought, establish this intention, the Zikr must function like the pulse of blood in your arteries.

Clearly this is a demanding study requiring great concentrattion and determination. May we be granted the grace and the wisdom to practise it and to reach our goal, annihiliating the self to merge with God.

His Holiness Sheikh Muhammad Raheem Bawa Muhaiyaddeen's Silent Marifah Zikr 

This is a very brief outline of the zikr. The number of repetitions is shown at left for the morning zikr, in order to make it quicker for those who have to go to work. His Holiness cuts the repetitions of all the recitations with 100 repetitions to 33 or less with the exception of the kalimah, which usually remains at 100. If time is severely limited, repetitions may be cut to 11, 9, or 3 and the repetitions of A'udu billahi minash shaitannir rajim, Surathul Fatihah and Surathul Ikhlas between the other recitations may be omitted and replaced with A'udu and the Bismillah.

For the Jum'ah zikr on Fridays, the Kalimah and other recitations may be repeated 100, 200, 300, 500, 666 or more times. This is the Zikr Ruhi for your Soul, the silent Zikr of Marifah to be said silently with lips closed, coming from your soul and heart (Qualb) and said at Thahajat time to seek your Qualb's unity with Allah, and entrusting your Ruh to Allah. Befor doing zikr your heart must be melting and be made pure without any trace of arrogance, hatred, malice, shaitan's and animal qualities. Do Thowba, repent and ask forgiveness from Allah, before doing this Marifah Zikr. The niyat or intention which you must keep is to merge your purified soul or light form with Allah.

The recitation or remembarance of God which cuts away the influence of the five elements (earth, fire, water, air and ether), washes away all the Karma that has accumulated from the very beginging until now, and beautifies and dispels the darkness of the heart and makes it respond. The Kalima washes away the body and heart of man and makes them pure, makes his wisdom emerge, and impels the wisdom to know the self and Allah.

The Silent Marifah Zikr

3 - A'udu billahi minash shaitanir rajim 

(I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed satan)

33 - Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim 

(In the name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate)

A'udu billahi minash shaitanir rajim 

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim (In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate)

Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil 'alamin (Praise be to Allah, The Lord of the universes)

ArRahmanir Rahim (Most Merciful, Most Compassionate)

Maliki yawmid-din (Master of the Day of Judgment)

Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'in (Thee do we worship and Thine aid we seek)

Ih-di nas siratal mustaqim (Show us the straight way)

Siratal-ladhina an 'amta 'alaihim (The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace)

Ghairil-maghdubi 'alahim wa lad-dallin (Those whose portion is not wrath and who go not astray)

Ameen

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim (In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate)

Qul Huwallahu Ahad (Say: He is Allah, the One and Only)

Allahus Samad (Allah, the Eternal, Absolute)

Lam yalid wa lam yulad (He beggetteth not, nor is He begotten)

Wa lam yakul-lahu kufuwan ahad (And there is none like Him)

33 - Astaghfirullahil azim 

(I seek forgiveness from Allah, the Supreme One)

33 - Subhanallahi wal hamdu lillahi, wa la ilaha illallahu, wallahu akbar, wa la haula, wa la quwwata illa billahi, wa huwal aliyyul azim

(All glory is Allah's and to Allah belongs all praise; and none is God except Allah and Allah is Most Great! There is no Majesty or power except with Allah, and he is Most Exalted, Supreme in Glory)

Implant Allah's 99 Qualities, the Asma ul Husna in your Qualb (Pray knowing the full meaning and plant these God's Qualities firmly in your Qualb)

33 - Subhanallah - Glory be to Allah!

33 - Al hamdulillah - All praise is to Allah!

33 - Allahu akbar - Allah is most Great!

33 - Ya Lateef - The most Gracious One!

33 - Ya Kabeer - The Great, The Vast, The Venerable and Formidable One!

33 - Ya Kareem - The Generous, The Bountiful, Noble and Beneficient One!

33 - Ya Raheem - The Compassionate, The Most Merciful One!

33 - Ya Rahman - The Merciful, The Compassionate and Most Gracious One!

33 - Ya Rabb - The Lord: The Creator and Protector!

33 - Ya Saboor - The Most Patient, The Long Enduring and Forbearant one!

33 - Ya Quddus - The Holy, The Purest!

33 - Ya Allahu - God, The One who is beyond Comparison!

33 - Ya Ghafur - The Much Forgiving, The Pardoner, The Forgiver!

33 - Ya Baseer - The All Seeing, The All Comprehending!

33 - Ya Haqq - The Truth!

33 - Allahu Qadirin, Allahu Malikin, Allahu Salihin (O Allah who is the Power, O Allah who is the King, O Allah who is the Most Righteous One!)

33 - Ya Allahu, Ya Manhu, Ya Rabbil Alamin (O Allah, The One who exists by Himself, O Lord of all the Universes)

100 - Haqq La Ilaha Illallah - True, there is no God but Allah!

33 - Sallallahu ala Muhammad, Ya Rabbi salli alaihi wa sallim (May Allah shower his blessings upon Muhammad, O Lord grant him eternal peace!)

1 - Ya Sayyid Muhaiyaddeen Amrullahi, Ya Nurail 

(O Master Muhaiyaddeen, Command of Allah)

1 - Ya Sheikh Muhaiyaddeen  Fadlullahi Ya Atwail 

(O Teacher Muhaiyaddeen, Plentitude of Allah)

1 - Ya Auliya Muhaiyaddeen  Amanullahi Ya Jabbail

 (O Saint Muhaiyaddeen, Shelter of Allah)

1 - Ya Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Nurullahi Ya Qamrail 

(O Father Muhaiyaddeen, Pure Light of Allah)

1 - Ya Ghauth Muhaiyaddeen Qutubullahi Ya Asmail 

(O Saintly Helper Muhaiyaddeen, Qutub of Allah)

1 - Ya Sultan Muhaiyaddeen Saifullahi Ya Ismail

 (O Ruler Muhaiyaddeen, Sword of Allah)

1 - Ya Khwaja Muhaiyaddeen Farmanullahi Ya Tartail 

(O Master Teacher Muhaiyaddeen, Allah's Assurance of Safety)

1 - Ya Makhdum Muhaiyaddeen Furqanullahi Ya Ruqail 

(O Director of Duty Muhaiyaddeen, Clear Proof of Allah)

1 - Ya Badhushah Muhaiyaddeen Arshullahi, Ya Matrail 

(O Primal Ruler Muhaiyaddeen,  Throne of Allah)

1 - Ya Darwsh Muhaiyaddeen Hayatullahi, Ya Qatrail 

(O Dervish Muhaiyaddeen, Life of Allah)

1 - Ya Fakir Muhaiyaddeen Mujahidatullahi Ya Numail 

(O Pauper Muhaiyaddeen, Allah's warrior against evil)

1 - Ya Baghdadi Sheikh Sultan Fakir Muhaiyaddeen Abdul Qadir Jilani (Radiyallahu 'anh) 

(O the one from Baghdad, King of Sheikhs, Pauper Muhaiyaddeen, Slave of the Most Powerful, the one from Jilan  - May Allah be pleased with him)

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim (In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate)

Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil 'alamin (Praise be to Allah, The Lord of the universes)

ArRahmanir Rahim (Most Merciful, Most Compassionate)

Maliki yawmid-din (Master of the Day of Judgment)

Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'in (Thee do we worship and Thine aid we seek)

Ih-di nas siratal mustaqim (Show us the straight way)

Siratal-ladhina an 'amta 'alaihim (The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace)

Ghairil-maghdubi 'alahim wa lad-dallin (Those whose portion is not wrath and who go not astray)

Ameen

33 - La ilaha illallah, Muhammad Mustafa rasul Sallallahu alaihi wa salam (There is no God but Allah, Muhammad is the chosen Messenger, may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim (In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate)

Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil 'alamin (Praise be to Allah, The Lord of the universes)

ArRahmanir Rahim (Most Merciful, Most Compassionate)

Maliki yawmid-din (Master of the Day of Judgment)

Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'in (Thee do we worship and Thine aid we seek)

Ih-di nas siratal mustaqim (Show us the straight way)

Siratal-ladhina an 'amta 'alaihim (The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace)

Ghairil-maghdubi 'alahim wa lad-dallin (Those whose portion is not wrath and who go not astray)

Ameen

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim (In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate)

Qul Huwallahu Ahad (Say: He is Allah, the One and Only)

Allahus Samad (Allah, the Eternal, Absolute)

Lam yalid wa lam yulad (He beggetteth not, nor is He begotten)

Wa lam yakul-lahu kufuwan ahad (And there is none like Him)

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim (In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate)

Qul A'udhu birabbil falaq (Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of the dawn)

Min sharri ma khalaq (From the mischief of created things)

Wa min sharri ghasiqin idha waqab (From the mischief of darkness as it overspreads)

Wa min sharri naffathati fil'uqad (From the mischief of those who practice secret arts)

Wa min sharri hasidin idha hasad (And from the mischief of the envious one as he practices envy)

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim (In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate)

Qul a'udhdu birabbin-nas (Say: I seek refuge with the Lord and Cherisher of mankind)

Malikin-nas (The King of mankind)

Ilahin-nas (The God of mankind)

Min sharril waswasil khannas (From the mischief of the whisperer of evil who withdraws after his whisper)

Al-ladhi yuwaswisu fi sudurin-nas (The same, who whispers into the hearts of mankind)

Minal-jinnati wan-nas (Among jinns and men)

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

11 - Jibreel (Alaihis Salathu wassalaam) - Gabriel  - Angel who brings revelations

11 - Mika'il (Alaihis Salathu wassalaam)  - Michael - Angel of Water

11 - Israfil (Alaihis Salathu wassalaam)  - Israfil - Angel of Air

11 - Izra'il  (Alaihis Salathu wassalaam)  - Izrael - Angel of Fire, Angel of Death

11 - Ruq'ail (Alaihis Salathu wassalaam) - Ruqail  - Protecting Angel

11 - Munkar wa Nakir (Alaihimas Salathu wassalaam) - Angels who ask questions and administer punishments

11 - Raqib wa Atid (Alaihimas Salathu wassalaam)  - Recording angels, Raqib for good, right shoulder, Atid for bad, left shoulder

11 - Rizwan wa Malik (Alaihimas Salathu wassalaam) - Rizwan - Angel in charge of heaven, Malik - Angel in charge of hell.

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim (In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate)

Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil 'alamin (Praise be to Allah, The Lord of the universes)

ArRahmanir Rahim (Most Merciful, Most Compassionate)

Maliki yawmid-din (Master of the Day of Judgment)

Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'in (Thee do we worship and Thine aid we seek)

Ih-di nas siratal mustaqim (Show us the straight way)

Siratal-ladhina an 'amta 'alaihim (The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace)

Ghairil-maghdubi 'alahim wa lad-dallin (Those whose portion is not wrath and who go not astray)

Ameen

3 times - Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim (In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate)

Qul Huwallahu Ahad (Say: He is Allah, the One and Only)

Allahus Samad (Allah, the Eternal, Absolute)

Lam yalid wa lam yulad (He beggetteth not, nor is He begotten)

Wa lam yakul-lahu kufuwan ahad (And there is none like Him)

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim (In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate)

Qul A'udhu birabbil falaq (Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of the dawn)

Min sharri ma khalaq (From the mischief of created things)

Wa min sharri ghasiqin idha waqab (From the mischief of darkness as it overspreads)

Wa min sharri naffathati fil'uqad (From the mischief of those who practice secret arts)

Wa min sharri hasidin idha hasad (And from the mischief of the envious one as he practices envy)

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim (In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate)

Qul a'udhdu birabbin-nas (Say: I seek refuge with the Lord and Cherisher of mankind)

Malikin-nas (The King of mankind)

Ilahin-nas (The God of mankind)

Min sharril waswasil khannas (From the mischief of the whisperer of evil who withdraws after his whisper)

Al-ladhi yuwaswisu fi sudurin-nas (The same, who whispers into the hearts of mankind)

Minal-jinnati wan-nas (Among jinns and men)

(Pray the Dua, Kanzul Arsh or the Invocation of the treaure of the throne with full meaning from the Heart or Qualb)

1 - La ilaha illallah, Adam Safiyullah

1 - La ilaha illallah, Nuh Najiullah

1 - La ilaha illallah, Ibrahim Khaleeyullah

1 - La ilaha illallah, Ismael Dhabiyullah

1 - La ilaha illallah, Musa Khaleemullah

1 - La ilaha illallah, Dawood Khaleefathullah

1 - La ilaha illallah, Isa Ruhullah

1 - La ilaha illallah, Muhammad Mustafa Rasul Sallallahu alahi wa sallam

Sallahu ta'ala ala khairi khalki wa nuri arshihi, afdalil ambiya'il wal mursalin, habibi rabil alamin: habibina, wa shafi'ina, wa sayyidina, wa sanadina, wa maulana, wa wasilatina, illahi muhammadiw wala alihi wa sahbihi ajmaina, birahmatika ya arhamar rahimin

Subhana rabbika, rabbil izzati amma yasifun, wa salamun alal mursalin

Wal hamdu lillahi rabbil alamin 

Ameen Ameen ya Rabbil Alamin

2 - Sallallahu ala Muhammad; Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam

1 - Sallallahu ala Muhammad; ya Rabbi salli alaihi wa sallim

May Allah, the exalted bless the best of His creation, the light of His throne, the most perfect of the prophets and messengers, the beloved of the Lord, protector and cherisher of the universes, our beloved, our intercessor, our liege, our support, our friendly protector, and our way and method of reaching Allah, Muhammad, and bless his people and his companions, all, by Your grace, O Most Merciful of the merciful! So be it, so be it, O Lord, Cherisher and Protector of all the universes! Ameen!

May Allah bless Muhammad; O my Lord bless him and grant him peace!